Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

September 7, 2009

Guadalest Costa Blanca

Filed under: Costa Blanca,History,Spain — Tags: , — needahand @ 5:30 pm
Guadalest Castle

Guadalest Castle

One of the most visited locations on the Costa Blanca, Castell de Guadalest is an amazing place with a long history. Overlooked by its 12th century castle, built by the Moors in an inaccessible location atop a steep mountain, Guadalest is a picture postcard village with a resident population of just a couple of hundred. The upper town and castle can only be reached by entering a 15 metre long tunnel, carved from solid rock, and the streets below and above are lined with tiny souvenir shops selling mementos and local products. From the village square at the top there is a spectacular view of the Embalse de Guadalest reservoir, way below in the valley. The castle of Guadalest gave refuge to the Moors in their struggle for control of the area when besieged by the reconquering Christians, and held out here long after much of Spain had fallen, a picture of the castle can be seen above, showing how inaccessible this place is.

Catral Spain

Filed under: Costa Blanca,History,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 11:35 am

One of the many Vega Baja villages of the Alicante province of Spain, Catral is spread over a wide area with numerous detached villas on large plots of land, suggesting that maybe this is a new place. Far from it however as the village existed way back in Moorish times when it was known as Al-Quatrullat. The surrounding area became important for agriculture during the 18th century when the nearby marshes were drained for this purpose, Catral thus became more prosperous and it gained its independence from Orihuela in 1741. Life in Catral these days revolves around the village square, where you will find the ubiquitous church and of course the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento), from here a maze of quaint streets wind into shopping then residencial areas. One of the biggest days of the year in Catral takes place on June 24th, when the village celebrates its patron saint San Juan, an event which attracts visitors from far and wide as well as local residents of the village.

View a property for sale in Catral here: Catral Property

See a villa for sale in Catral here: Catral Villa

Get a location map here: Map of Catral.

September 6, 2009

Gandia Spain

Filed under: Costa Blanca,Costa del Azahar,History,Spain — needahand @ 4:25 pm

The northernmost town on the Costa Blanca or the southernmost on the Costa del Azahar (depending on your allegiance) is the industrial town of Gandia, I am calling it a town but it is generally regarded as a city. With a population of around 77,000, Gandia sits on the River Serpis about 65 kilometres south of Valencia, and has two separate areas – the town and the beach. Not so well known to International tourists, the wonderful sandy beaches of Gandia have long been popular with the Spanish who flock there in their thousands each year. The town itself does not have much appeal as a holiday destination, being more of a working town, but it does have an interesting history and a number of fascinating places to visit, the best known being the Palau Ducal former home of the Borja family. Gandia was originally settled by Iberians and later by Romans and Moors and was later a university town, becoming an important cultural and commercial centre in the 15th and 16th centuries. One of Gandia’s famous residents was Ausiàs March born in 1397 and considered by many the finest Valencian poet. The port of Gandia was founded in 1886, the railway line to Alcoy in 1893. These days Gandia is a bustling, modern city surrounded by orange groves and still sporting a considerable fishing fleet. Gandia Map.

Galicia North Western Spain

Filed under: Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — needahand @ 4:17 pm

Spain’s most north-westerly region, Galicia is also its greenest, experiencing considerably more rainfall, and cooler temperatures than most of Spain. Galicia is still a poor region and most of its inhabitants are involved in either agriculture or fishing, with 3 of its 4 provinces having an Atlantic coastline. Visiting Galicia is like stepping back in time and many of its farm are too small for tractors, still using horses to pull ploughs and work the land. Its coastline is indented with fjord-like “rias” the best known example being the Rias Baixas (Lower Rias) in the south-west bordering Portugal. Galicia’s best known city is the holy city of Santiago de Compostela, built on the reputed site of the burial place of Saint James the Apostle, Santiago de Compostela is Europe’s second most important place of pilgrimage after Saint Peter’s Rome. The fishing industry is of very important for the region and the port and city of Vigo is the main supplier to Spain’s fish trade. Galicia weather is different from much of Spain with cooler summers and wetter winters, the coastal resorts are popular and the region has some excellent beaches. Galicia comprises 4 provinces, Ourense, A Coruña, Lugo and Pontevedra. Galicia Map.

Other interesting towns in Galicia include Betanzos, Mondonedo and Pontevedra.

Fortuna Murcia Spain

Filed under: Costa Blanca,Costa Calida,History,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 1:51 pm

Located in the province of Murcia in south-eastern Spain, the spa town of Fortuna is one of Spain’s natural wonders, boasting an abundance of hot springs that were originally developed by the Romans over 2,000 years ago. The small town of Fortuna has a population of just over 6,000 and is around 18 kilometres from the city of Murcia, about 45 kilometres from the coastlines of the Costa Calida and the Costa Blanca. The history of the town goes back to the times of the Iberians, when settlements were founded in such places as Castillejo, Capres and Cortao de las Peñas. Later the Romans appreciated the abundance of water in an area prone to drought, and quickly built a spa there, as they did in similar locations all over Europe. After the collapse of the Roman Empire the Moors took over in Fortuna, and their influence is still visible in the town by way of the Moorish Castle (Castillico de los Moros). The spa’s today take advantage of the thermal waters bubbling up at 126 degrees F and people come from miles around to enjoy the healing properties of the waters, renowned for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis, osteoporosis and asthma. Fortuna is located north of the city of Murcia near to the town of Abanilla. Fortuna Map.

Formentera Balearic Islands

Filed under: Balearic Islands,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 1:43 pm

Smallest of the main Balearic Islands, with a resident population of less than 5,000, Formentera is also the quietest and least spoilt of the islands. With an area of only 82km2, this is a tiny island, its big brother, Ibiza is only 4 kilometres to the north and its lack of an airport is no doubt the reason for its unspoilt nature. Formentera is being discovered by more and more people each year and at the moment is mostly chosen by those wanting to escape the overcrowded destinations such as Ibiza and Mallorca. Part of the Pitiusas group of islands along with Ibiza and a number of islets, Formentera was discovered by the Greeks, occupied by the Romans and later by the Moors, and fortified by the Christians after the reconquest. The main attractions apart from the tranquillity are the splendid beaches and the crystal clear water, Formentera has some of the best beaches in the Balearics and also the least crowded, at times you would think you were on an isolated tropical island. The lack of an airport means you will have to arrive by ferry, your landing point will be La Savina and you will most probably be coming from Ibiza Town or Denia on the Spanish mainland. The climate is much the same as Ibiza, a temperate Mediterranean one, with Formentera weather being suitable for holidays throughout the year. While the traditional beach holiday is popular and emerging resorts such as Es Pujols are growing, walking and cycling holidays are also desirable as is scuba diving. To see the main architectural heritage of the island you may want to head for the capital Sant Francesc where you will find a fortified 18th century church and the interesting Ethnological Museum with a variety of tools and implements on show. If you fancy a holiday with a difference why not try the peaceful island of Formentera. Formentera Map.

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